Supreme Court reverses ruling in traffic camera case

The cities of Cedar Rapids, Muscatine and Des Moines had sued the Iowa DOT in June 2015 to block a March 2015 order to turn off or move several ATEs around the state, including removing two speed cameras as drivers on Interstate 380 leave the notorious S-curve in downtown Cedar Rapids, and moving two others closer in to the curve as drivers approach it.

The lower court ruled in favor of the Iowa DOT on April 25, 2017, finding the Iowa Code gave the state agency wide authority of the state’s primary highways and interstates.

The ruling came unexpectedly quickly after oral arguments on April 10. Court watchers had been expecting a ruling by the end of term in late June.

Cedar Rapids Mayor Brad Hart expressed relief on Friday because the roads are safer with the cameras and because the city is unlikely to face the prospect of having to issue refunds, he said.More>>